Stranded NASA astronaut Sunita Williams speaks out about concerns over her weight loss in space

Stranded astronaut Sunita Williams said growing concerns about her health were nothing more than “rumours” – as she attributed the change in her appearance to “fluid shifts”.

Williams, 59, sparked concern last week when she appeared in a NASA photo appearing gaunt with sunken cheeks and a noticeably thinner frame.

The astronaut tried to allay concerns while speaking to the New England Sports Network Clubhouse Kids Show on Tuesday, saying she was fine.

“People in the room, you know, their heads look a little bit bigger because the fluid is leveling out along the body,” she explained.

“I think things shift quite a bit, you’ve probably heard of a fluid shift,” she added, referring to the phenomenon that occurs to astronauts in space.

Fluid shifts have affected half of all U.S. astronauts aboard the International Space Station, with fluid in the body moving upward and increasing the volume and pressure in the head, according to NASA.

Williams also hit back at claims that she is losing too much weight in space by saying that she has indeed put on muscle since her return home was delayed until February.

“My thighs are a little bit bigger, my butt is a little bit bigger,” she said. “We do a lot of squats.”

But a NASA employee directly involved in Williams’ mission told The Post last week that the astronaut “has lost a lot of weight.”

“The kilos have melted off her and she is now skin and bones,” he said. “So it’s a priority to help her stabilize the weight loss and hopefully reverse it.”

The source said Williams, who was only meant to be in space for eight days, has been unable to keep up with the high-calorie diets astronauts must consume.

NASA doctors began working with Williams about a month ago to help her pack on the pounds — even before the viral photos caused global concern about her health, the source said.

NASA has stressed that there are no major concerns about Williams’ health or weight.

“All NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station undergo routine medical evaluations,” the agency said in a statement.

“They have dedicated flight surgeons monitoring them and are in good health.”

Williams and her fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore have been stuck on the ISS for more than five months now, after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft experienced technical malfunctions and returned to Earth empty.

A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule will give them a ride home, but it’s not scheduled to return until February 2025.